Purpose: To determine if scleral buckling is of any benefit in surgical repair of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated retinal detachment if combined with vitrectomy, silicone oil, and inferior midperipheral endolaser.
Materials and methods: Twenty-two consecutive eyes with CMV-associated retinal detachments were repaired with vitrectomy and endolaser to all breaks and to the inferior midperipheral retina using silicone oil without scleral buckling (group 1, control group) between July 1987 and May 1992. Results were compared with another series of 56 consecutive eyes undergoing vitrectomy, silicone oil injection, endolaser to all breaks, and 360 degrees encircling scleral buckling (group 2, study group) between June 1992 and July 1993.
Results: Total retinal reattachment rates were 84% for group 1 and 86% for group 2. Rates of macular reattachment were 91% for group 1 and 91% for group 2. Mean best postoperative refracted visual acuity was 20/66 for group 1 and 20/67 for group 2. Median best postoperative refracted visual acuity was 20/74 for group 1 and 20/80 for group 2. These differences in results between the two groups were not statistically significant. Mean postoperative refractive error was +3.95 for group 1 and +4.92 for group 2. Patients who underwent surgery with the macula attached had a better postoperative visual outcome.
Conclusion: Scleral buckling may not be necessary in CMV-related retinal detachment if repaired with vitrectomy, silicone oil, and inferior midperipheral endolaser. Elimination of scleral buckling may reduce intraoperative time, patient morbidity, and the risk of an accidental needle stick. Patients with macula-on retinal detachments also should be considered for surgery before macular detachment.